It’s been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks! Huge decision making and lack of sleep and rest because of it, overwhelming joy with everything falling into place later, and finally a quick getaway to Stockholm from Sunday to Tuesday in order to celebrate my boyfriend’s birthday.

The snowstorm that hit Finland and Sweden on Monday almost beat us but we still managed to have a great time. After fighting the snow all day the weather finally settled down in the evening and we were able to enjoy a peaceful stroll in the lovely, quiet streets of Stockholm’s Old Town where our gorgeous hotel Lady Hamilton was also located. To anyone who would enjoy a dose of old world charm and a fantastic location, I can warmly recommend this hotel! This mini trip was my birthday gift to my boyfriend and he also enjoyed the hotel very much. It wasn’t too girly at all but indeed very romantic.

Picture captured from Lady Hamilton’s website. This was our room!

This time of year is in many ways quite difficult for jewellery making. The days are short and there’s hardly any daylight for decent photography. Also the work itself is hard as lack of light makes me tired and making fine tuned colour combinations always requires daylight. I still have many unfinished projects but have at least managed to take a few basic photos of some earrings. So let’s see at least those…

In Autumn Flower we see the last of these smoky quartz pebbles. I haven’t come across the same size, shape and quality since I handpicked just one strand of these over at Bead Empire in New York last year. Sigh…

Autumn Flower

The Dancer in “blush” earrings were made ages ago but I had forgotten to photograph them. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of these particular Swarovski crystals, so this is a style I’ll definetly be remaking every once in a while…

The Dancer in “blush”

Can earrings ever be too long? Not necessarily. These simple sparklies measure about 8 cm in length. Czech firepolished glass beads at their best :).

Le Concert au Salon

Now back to work. So many things, so little time, and yet another party on the way! See ya!

I have a lot of unfinished projects on my hands and still have no new jewellery pictures to show, so blog-wise I’m now finally taking part in the music tag that I got from my boyfriend months ago already. It seemed fitting since I’ve been listening to such fantastic music lately! Music is also related to my jewellery making: I always listen to music when I’m working, as I’m certain lots of other people do as well.

The idea of this tag was quite simply to name five songs that are currently playing in your head, no matter what genre they are or weather they’re old or new. For someone like me who’s absolutely crap at choosing and deciding anything, this is quite a difficult job but I’ll go for it anyway.  Out of all the hundreds of current favourites, here are five random choices…

1. Stephanie McKay: Jackson Avenue

I’ve been hooked on this track ever since I first heard it on my adored Radio Nova Paris in August. There’s a pureness in this woman’s performance that really appeals to me. And I miss New York. Listen to “Jackson Avenue” on Stephanie McKay’s MySpace.

2. Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons: Beggin’ (Pilooski re-edit)

Sometimes re-edits of good old classics are horrible and other times they’re just totally spot-on. The talented frenchman Pilooski made a version of “Beggin’ ” in 2007 that falls easily into the latter category. I’ve been listening to it practically on repeat for the last few weeks, it’s absolutely hypnotic!! The video is available on YouTube and Pilooski’s MySpace can be found here.

3. Mulatu Astatke: Yegelle Tezela

I very recently rediscovered ethiojazz and particularly the music of Mulatu Astatke when I heard “Yegelle Tezela” on the radio. Mulatu and his band would be a joy to see live! I can’t believe I missed their gig in Helsinki two years ago!! Listen to the album version of “Yegelle Tezela” at Mulatu Astatke’s MySpace. In this video he’s performing with his band at Cargo in London just last Spring.

4. Thom Yorke: Analyze

The Prestige is one of my biggest favourites when it comes to movies from recent years. This song marks the ending of the film. It always gives me goosebups (in a good way) when I hear it. Listen to “Analyze” on Thom Yorke’s MySpace.

5. Ananda Project: Cascades of Colour

My undying love for deep and soulful house music is no secret. This song represents true bliss. Brings me to tears at it’s best. And although it’s not a new track, for me it became the undisputed anthem of Summer 2008. Listen to “Cascades of colour” on Ananda Project’s MySpace.

We had some computer trouble a while ago and as a result I’ve recently had to completely recreate my iTunes library. It’s been quite a bit of work but also a lot of fun, searching for my own favourites from the thousands of tracks that we have tucked away on an external hard-drive. There’s just so much great music out there in the world it’s just crazy! Sometimes I really envy the people such as deejays who are not only passionate about music but actually get paid for playing and listening to it.

I hope at least someone has enjoyed some of the music introduced in this post, but if not, that’s ok as well. Because, as we all know, it’s all a matter of taste…

P.S. Does the title of this post happen to ring a bell to anyone?

I’m wide awake and biting my nails over the upcoming results of the US election, so I thought I might as well make a new post.

I’ve not much new jewellery to show because I’m mainly working on remakes of my recent pieces. I had a little jewellery party about a week ago and the feedback I got from all the fantastic girls that attended was mindblowing! Thank You to each and every one of you, it was such a fun night!!

When I’m working, the mess can’t be avoided. So why not post a realistic photo!

Well, to prove that I’m doing something I’ll post a few odd photos of my dear old working table. My “studio space” at home is tiny, but I cherish it. I’ve had my beloved 19th century table for about a year now. Before that I just moved my bits and bobs around the flat wherever there was light…

Old bottles. My favourite jewellery displays.

The pictures aren’t taken in the best possible light, nor with a stand, so… But well, the light is what it is this time of year. The dark days are coming, yes they are…

When beads touch wood they make a lovely rattling sound…

My lovely week in the Mediterranean sun is over and I’ve been back for about ten days. I’m running on solar power for the time being and I really hope it will last for a while, as Autumn and its dark days are definitely here again…

Crete was beautiful and everything went as I had hoped: fantastic weather, lovely beach, nice and tidy hotel, smiling people, great food and shopping, charming streets and taverns in Chania’s old town… I would gladly have stayed for another week or two.. or three… Please, Mirkka, let’s go together one time, the whole bunch of us!

If it’s dark and raining where you are at the moment, check out the set I made on Flickr out of the photos I took in Crete.

I’ll be back with some jewellery soon, once I get my act together again.

I made this set of turquoise/sand/green jewellery during my summer holiday. Easy, carefree summer jewellery that goes best with light, Indian cotton and a slight tan.

Seafoam earrings

This summer went by so quickly and at some point actually felt like a summer that never truly arrived. By the time I got back from the country, it almost felt like Autumn already, so I wasn’t sure if I would feel like introducing “Seafoam” here at all…

Seafoam necklace

Then again, why hide the summer jewellery, since at many parts of the world it’s still summer?! And next Sunday I’m leaving for one of those places as my mother and I are taking off to the island of Crete in Greece! We’re going to the region of Chania, of which I’ve heard nothing but nice things. I haven’t travelled in Greece since my early teens, so I’m really looking forward to this trip. Hooray!

Seafoam bracelet

Mika Waltari, my favourite author to whom I owe the name of this blog among so many other things, was born one hundred years ago today. My beautiful plan for today was to celebrate this joyous occasion by going to an art exhibition opened in his honour and afterwards to dine in some classic, cultural Helsinki restaurant (perhaps this one)in the company of dear friends. Given the amount of inspiration, beauty, love, laughter and tears, not to mention the huge respect I have for the Finnish language greatly caused by the man’s literature, it would have been very lovely indeed to raise a glass or two and have a delightful evening in celebration of his life’s work.

“Fine van Brooklyn” in a gorgeous, first edition paperback from 1943.

But, since I’ve been struggling with fever and all over pain since yesterday, tonight’s events have been nothing like depicted above. I’ve shed enough tears over the matter and managed to pick myself up from the sofa before the end of the day at least to publish this post. And I really hope to have that dinner rescheduled!

This vintage pendant, perhaps from the 1920’s or 30’s, was a recent gift from my boyfriend.

When people talk about Mika Waltari they almost always mention The Egyptian, his most famous novel. Out of all Waltari’s novels it’s not the most important one to me personally, but it’s undoubtably an absolutely fantastic book. My forever sweet and thoughtful boyfriend recently gave me this vintage pendant as a symbolic gesture, since the woman portrayed in it plays an important role in “The Egyptian”. I love it!

I’ve always wondered what Waltari would think about me writing this jewellery blog under the name Fine van Brooklyn. My guess is that he wouldn’t have minded terribly, since he was widely known for having a soft spot for, as he called them “the beautiful vanities” of life, like art and other lovely things. Anyway, Thank You, Mika! Wherever you are…

Many of the necklaces I made made during my holiday feature the chunky, faceted amethysts that had been haunting me since I bought just a few of them from Barcelona last year. Recently a sweet friend of mine brought me a small handful of them along with some dazzling black agates, aquamarines and exquisite, natural red cinnabar beads. What a joy it is to have friends who travel!

I don’t know what I’ve been waiting for since I’ve been a slow starter in using these treasures. However, the relaxing mood of my summer studio inspired a series of necklaces. Here are the first of them.

Ametista in turquoise

The necklaces are created in my usual style as it’s tiresome to pretend to “invent the wheel” over and over again. It gives me equal, sometimes even more joy to make several versions of the same design that has already proved to work, since making different colour and material combinations is probably my favourite part of the creative process. I’m also hopeless at making decisions, so I hardly ever imagine a piece in just one colour combo, not to mention a single colour!

Ametista in goldstone

I’ve noticed that if I try to over-analyse my creations I can’t get anything done. The same happens if I think about how other people might see my work. When I manage to shake off those distracting thoughts, I usually produce pieces that I’m personally content with.

Jewellery making has always been about freedom to me. I call it my “creative breathing-hole”. After a working day of tedious chores and having to get along with the masses, I finally sit in front of my tiny working table, even if it’s only for a few moments. And it’s quite true: the air suddenly seems fresh again.

A big, huge Thank You to everyone who commented on my last post with all your well-wishing! I honestly appreciate it!!

The view from my summer studio.

I’m back in Helsinki and my four weeks of freedom are over, but my mind is still somewhere else. I’m posting now only to break the spell, to make it easier to return again later. But today I just don’t feel up to it yet. I have so much photographing and all sorts of catching up to do. Bear with me, please. I’ll be back.

Finally finished. The Snowflake Chandelier necklace.

I’m off on vacation for a few weeks. Could I BE any readier to take off from Helsinki? No. Summer life awaits in the country!

Le Concert au Salon

Afrodite

Apple Blossom

Enjoy the summer! Cheers!

This is just a quick photo post, as I’ve finally managed to take some decent pictures, but the EURO2008 final (Go, Spain!!!) is starting in half an hour, so…

The first set is Masquerade. Not for the faint at heart with this dramatic colour combination :)! The black agate in the bracelet has exquisite facets and shine. My friend brought me a handful of those treasures from Barcelona in April. Ooh and aah!

Masquerade earrings

Masquerade bracelet

Carved gemstones are expensive but very inspiring and a real treat to work with. These twin necklaces feature charming flower-shaped red carnelians, one paired up with almost a whole strand of even redder carnelians and the other with a similar strand of faceted fancy jaspers.

Carnelian Flower necklace in red

Bottle jewelled with Carnelian Flower necklace in green and the Sunset Sky set. Another view of the necklace here.

These earrings I’ve made several weeks ago but noticed now that they have a very similar feel to the above necklaces.

Rowan earrings

Here is a bracelet made on request in the same style as another “Charming” bracelet from back in the day. The light colours made it quite a challenge to photograph in the circumstances I was having, and I must say this one looks much prettier in real life.

Charming bracelet in clear/aqua

And lastly, a threesome of earrings. I finally found a key to making them hang naturally when photographed! Yeay!

Afrodite earrings

Brunette earrings

Veranda earrings

I recently realised that my Flickr set for Jewellery is geting a bit hard to manage on it’s own, so I did something on a rainy day this week that I should have done ages ago: created separate sets for Earrings, Bracelets and Necklaces, alongside one more set, Happy Together. I think now the navigating through photos is much simpler, especially if someone is searching for some piece in particular there.

The gallery here on the bloggy is only for the pieces available for purchase, and is updated regularly so check it out if you see something you might fancy for yourself. Ok, enough of the advertising and on with the… EURO2008 FINAL! Cheerio!